I’ve been reading LJ just about everyday for about a month, just joining now. I’ve been researching the whole time about machines to set up a work shop. First as a hobbyist, but with the hopes to go pro. Projects would be tables, chairs, desks, cabinets, and the related pieces.

After reading all the rave reviews (quality, service, and price) about Grizzly’s machines, I’ve pretty much settled on them for a TS, planer, jointer, and dust collection, but I do have a doubt though. Does anyone have experience with using grizzly machines and having gone pro? Do they hold up for constant use, everyday, for hours on end, or should I start looking at a different brand? For the price they are very tempting, but I don’t want to have to replace after going pro.

17 replies so far

Big names have plenty of Grizzly machines in their shops. We’re talking guitar makers like Gibson, Fender, Taylor and others. The Grizzly catalog show you exactly what machines they have bought off of Grizzly. Grizzly offers everything from very inexpensive hobbyist machinery, to very specific expensive machinery for mass production. Take table saws, for instance: They offer everything from a contractors saw for a few hundred, all the way to a 14” sliding table saw for more than $11 grand… Bandsaws from $400 to $16 grand for a horizontal resaw bandsaw…. 25” planers costing $10 grand… 51” wide belt sanders costing $20 grand… Yeah, I’m sure they have a whole lot of commercial sales!

A friend of mine has been using a Grizzly 2hp DC, 3hp TS, 8” jointer, 2hp 17” BS, DP, and an edge sander professionally….some for more than 10 years with no issues that I’ve heard him mention. He’s got a small 1 to 4 person shop, and his machines don’t run 24/7. More importantly than whether the usage is professional or hobby, is the frequency, duration, intensity of use, the appropriateness of the machine for the task, and how well maintained they are, etc. Treat them right, and a lot the Grizzly tools should be fine.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Depending what your going to make and the particular piece of equipment you buy sure you can use Grizzly equipment.I’ve heard some folks with high volume work and lots of employees say some of their grizzly equipment did not hold up.As for me and my one man shop my many Grizzly tools have held up very well and I’m very pleased with all of the tools I have.

Marlin, the short answer is yes grizzly will do the job for you..My first grizz. machines were a 15 inch planer and a 3hp shaper. I bought these two in about 84 or maybe 85. I was pretty skeptical at the time. After using the planer for a site machine I finally sold it about five years ago, still working well mind you. And the shaper is still being used on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis. The only problem I have had with the shaper was the need to replace the spindle cartridge and have the motor rebuilt : this was after only about 26 yrs of professional use.
I have to tell you that the grizz shaper was not my first shaper or only shaper meaning that I usually use it as a dedicated machine therefore it did not get the full impact of all of my operations but still pretty good I wood say.
I have an 8 inch spiral head grizz jointer that is ok but just ok. Fence adj. mechanism is sorta rinky-dink but it serves the purpose.
For a while I had a grizz 19 inch bandsaw and it was just ok but I dont think it would make the long haul in a pro shop. I also have had a 14 inch grizz and dont recomend a 14 inch bandsaw of any kind !
By the way about 6-7 yrs ago I did buy another 3hp shaper to compliment my other two shapers. No complaints other than a little underpowered but I have a big boy for when the going gets tuff.
Most of my equip. is delta (early 70s thru 80s vintaage). Each unit was sought out stratigically and individually. I dont know how long the grizz. equip. I have will last but Im sure the delta will outlast it by a large margin.
If you are buying new I would not hesitate on grizz. In my opinion (based on exp.) it is the best bang for the buck anywhere. Enjoy the journey ! JB

Just a word about something I’ve seen happen a lot here. Don’t over buy the tools, Usually the more expensive a tool is the bigger the material it handles. If you’re not using 8/4 stock, you can save a buck by not getting huge high voltage machines. Match the machine to your work and you’ll be a lot happier in the long run.

-- A positive attitude will take you much further than positive thinking ever will.

I bought a Grizzly 15” planer in 2005 and have used it commercially, since. I upgraded it to a Shelix head last year and am even happier with it. I also have a Grizzly floor model drill press that works good. My advice would be to check out the tool reviews by the major woodworking magazines and see how they rated them. I’ve also had a few Grizzly tools that I posted on Ebay, just because of the quality or they wouldn’t do what I wanted them to.

I bought the Grizzly Joiner for around $400 and couldn’t be happier with it. It works beautifully. Positioning the motor and belt was a little difficult, but it’s run well ever since. Great buy for the money

My shop for the most part is all grizzly. I own a 10” 3hp cabinet saw, 3hp dust collector, 3 hp shaper/1 hp 4 wheel power feeder, 17” Band saw, Radial drill press, Osculating spindle sander, 6 X 80 floor model edge sander, 8” jointer with Byrd Spiral cutter-head, 15” planer/Byrd spiral cutter-head,along with quite a few bench-top tools as well.I do not think you can close to Grizzly for quality or price. My oldest piece is probably my table saw from the early 80’sthe only problem I have ever had was with a small power-feeder that they stopped carrying parts for. I have sold off old models to buy newer usually getting as much for the units as I paid for them.

I buy most of my rough cut lumber from a friend that has a pro shop. His business is mostly Hard wood flooring and mouldings. He has plenty of Grizzly machines in his shop and been going strong for over 10 years.

In the cabinet shops I’ve seen, most of their production machines are of a specialized nature, like gang saws, multi station shapers, very largs belt sanders and large air compressors and air drying eqiupment. and large dust collection systems. Grizzly does carry some of them. Most of the special machines, I have never heard of. One shop I saw had a 10” cabinet saw pushed off in a corner. It didn’t see much use. The shops I’m refering to only had about 8 employees.